This course will teach you how to work efficiently and safely in the wool shed as a wool handler, identifying the different grades and types of wool in order to provide the best quality clip for the farmer. The quality of clip preparation will affect the farmer’s returns and the suitability of wool for use by the industry.

As a wool handler, you’ll be involved in:

• Preparing the wool clip by collecting and sorting wool from the shed floor as it’s shorn from a sheep
• Keeping the board (shed floor) safe and clean for all workers in the shed
• Working quickly, safely, and competently for long periods of time
• Working as a key part of a shed team, understanding roles and responsibilities and communication within the team.

Our WOMOlife wool handling course will teach you:

• How to understand the role of the wool handler and working within the team
• How to use wool handling gear
• How to set up a safe and efficient wool room floor
• About different types of cut outs
• How to wool handle for crutching – how to work well with the shearer and other team members
• How to read the flow of the shed
• How to have good timing and technique (especially important in crutching as this is done quickly)
• How to handle short and full wool
• How to remove the oddments (frib, belly, pieces) from shorn wool
• How to check and skirt the fleece
• How to separate the wool for length, colour and contamination
• How to set up board duties (raised, closed, blending stack, managing wool flow)
• How to handle full wool (or long wool), which is 12 months of growth: similar to short wool, with extra information on board duties, learning how to picking up and throw the fleece, skirt the fleece and wool rolling
• How to eat wisely for a longer more sustainable career